J&J is a strong performer

If long-term sustainable wealth creation is your goal, look no further than Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) as a candidate for your portfolio. It performs strongly year in and year out, regardless of the overall economy.

Johnson & Johnson features three main operating segments: medical devices and diagnostics, pharmaceutical and consumer — and controls more than 275 operating companies in all. Its medical devices and diagnostics segment is the largest medical technology business in the world, and a relatively rapid grower.

The consumer segment contains several world-class brands found in nearly every U.S. household -- think Band-Aid, Listerine, Tylenol and the company's namesake baby care products. Its pharmaceutical business is less steady, but solid.

J&J generates approximately 70 percent of its revenue from products that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 global market positions. It has delivered 29 consecutive years of adjusted earnings increases, and earlier this year increased its dividend for the 50th year in a row.

With a fortress-like balance sheet, J&J is one of only four nonfinancial, U.S.-based companies to hold the triple-A credit rating from Standard Poor's.